vw t2 1974 restoration

had to pull out the a pillar. Rebuilding the full outer skin not easy but possible. Believe me, how much easier would it of been to buy a brand new one

 

welding it all together. I will pull out the sot welds on the other side so i can paint the back side after I finish it.

 

where do i get the lip from that goes over the sill as i cut mine out

 

https://www.alanhschofield.com/ourp...Piece-Convert-from-LHD-to-RHD-211801403S.html
would this work?

 

no it will not anyone not what i can do?

 

@Dean mitropoulos that conversion piece is what I used on the driver' side to extend the floor out to the side panel.

Which lip are you referring to? Is it this threshold piece (the thick piece of steel in the left of this photo that I repaired)? If so then that isn't available. What's wrong with the one on your van? It's a pretty hefty chunk of steel so I can't imagine it was so rotten it needed to be cut out completely? If yours really is toast (unlikely) then you'd need a body cut.

 

no mine was fine i just made a small mistake when I cut out the sills. I cut mine in two areas and drilled the spot welds. I did not know it is not was not available

 

yes I definitely made it toast

 

You may need to repair yours in that case unless you find a donor.

 

ok i will but just so you know, it is cut across in two places and the issue is that it is cut flush with the floor most of the way so I will need to use that piece (10mm strip) and weld it together. very big mistake. This piece goes on last after the sills?

 

This is becoming a theme. If I were you next time you're thinking of hacking something up, I would get the replacement FIRST even if it's a readily available part. I have restored many of these buses. Never have I cut anything out without already having it's replacement to hand or knowing it was readily available.

 

you are right. That lesson I have now learnt. sorry. I should be able to weld it, grind it, weld it and buff it to be like new. this is why when i removed the kick board/ floor support, i did it very carefully and did not damage it or the inner valiance and still have it. With the a pilllar, i had to do it as it was to badly rusted out but it is coming along good. does not look very pretty but is fits good and the face panel and upper a pilar lines up and it followed the original bends and curves.

 

@JamesLey two questions. Will it work if i use/ make up the top track for the sliding door and have the top of the flat guide level with the top of the sill. Can i fold the lip and weld the the front face of the middle sill like you have done. Second question, does the b pillar edge sit flush and even with the sill lip. I have used your photos from you thread.

 

i will be able to repair the threshold part. it will be an all day job. Does it go on top of the inner and middle sill after they are fixed it?

 

Or RHD...


On top of the middle sill only.
The inner sill is alongside and attaches to the floor panel.
So the top of the inner sill and the low edge of the threshold strip should be level for the floor to sit on. My sill looks a bit low on the photos. I can't think it really was.

Hope that helps.

 

This might help.
I was picking it apart to save to outer skin/patina.

 

Last thing, VW staggered the bottom of the sills. Their reason was so that having spot welded the first two together they could then add the third and spot weld to just one of them so never having to spot through three layers. You might not want to be doing exactly that as you're not in a factory making them! But it's worth paying attention to where they will all join here so you don't have to force anything.
This van only has two sills on this side but it's the only pic I have. You get the idea.

 

progressing along. It took me a bit of time to make these. I need to finish the middle skin of the a pillar, then attach the top and bottom. Any ideas on lining it up? I was thinking to only tack the top and sit the windscreen in but without the a pillar top outer skin.

 

Hmm, not sure I follow your first point? Do you have any pics which might help?

For the B pillar you want the curve and lip on the outer skin to match the sill profile:


From memory I think I offered up the outer and then used that to see where the inner should be, looks like the inner on mine was just welded to the shelf on the inner sill:

 

may someone please do me a favour and measure the top of the a pillar outer skin as my fabricator made mine up and they don't look to right. Note the top corner is supposed to go under the gutters however i will do mine properly and weld to the inner strengthener. So everybody knows, this is the right side a pillar that i have not touched. the left is the same as well